Simplify the operation
Reduce (simplify) the fractions to their lowest terms equivalents:
- To reduce a fraction to the lowest terms equivalent: divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor, GCF.
The fraction: 18/1,026
- The prime factorizations of the numerator and denominator:
- 18 = 2 × 32
- 1,026 = 2 × 33 × 19
- Multiply all the common prime factors: if there are repeating prime factors we only take them once, and only the ones having the lowest exponent (the lowest powers).
- GCF (18; 1,026) = 2 × 32 = 18
18/1,026 = (18 ÷ 18)/(1,026 ÷ 18) = 1/57
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
18/1,026 = (2 × 32)/(2 × 33 × 19) = ((2 × 32) ÷ (2 × 32))/((2 × 33 × 19) ÷ (2 × 32)) = 1/57
The fraction: 25/1,030
- 25 = 52
- 1,030 = 2 × 5 × 103
- GCF (25; 1,030) = 5
25/1,030 = (25 ÷ 5)/(1,030 ÷ 5) = 5/206
The fraction can also be reduced without calculating GCF; factor the numerator and denominator and cross out all the common prime factors:
25/1,030 = 52/(2 × 5 × 103) = (52 ÷ 5)/((2 × 5 × 103) ÷ 5) = 5/206